NEWFIELDS — Just as many of his classmates do, 11-year-old Lucas Currier likes playing sports.

He loves playing hockey and soccer and occasionally going skiing with his family.

His favorite athlete is Bryce Harper, an outfielder for the Washington Nationals and his favorite sports movie is “The Mighty Ducks.” He even sticks to sports when it comes to video games, playing Madden on his Xbox.

As expected, the young athlete enjoyed every second of the Olympics he could soak in, and like many of his sixth-grade classmates, he was enthralled with Olympic hockey.

But Lucas faces something his classmates don't. At the age of 4, he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a disease that causes a degeneration of muscles that progresses over time. For many, DMD, leads to being wheelchair bound in their early teens and a shortened life expectancy in their early 20s.

But a new drug that can stabilize, and in some cases even reverse some of the effects of the degenerative disease, is under consideration by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Etiplersen could change the future for many children living with DMD.

The FDA granted “orphan drug status” to the drug, developed by Sarepta Therapeutics, because it shows promise in treating a rare disease. Linda Currier, Lucas' mother, said in 120 weeks of clinical trials, the drug has shown positive results and no real side effects.

An accelerated New Drug Application was granted for etiplersen last year, putting the drug on a fast track for approval. That expedited approval process was halted by the FDA last November without explanation.

“There's no treatment or cure for DMD and with this drug it's right there,” Linda said, “but it's just out of our reach and we're looking for help to push it forward.”

The Currier family, along with many others affected by the disease, is fighting for approval of etiplersen.

“We at the FDA recognize how devastating Duchenne muscular dystrophy is to patients and their families, as evidenced by the hundreds of letters submitted to the agency,” said Sandy Walsh of the FDA in a statement to Foster's on Monday.

“The FDA is committed to the needs of patients with serious and rare diseases and the agency will work closely with companies to ensure that safe and effective therapies used to treat these diseases are approved as quickly as possible. We will use every tool available to us to speed access to promising new therapies,” she wrote.

Linda said she has received much support from local and state officials, garnering support from Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen as well as U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and Gov. Maggie Hassan.

“These children and their families need options for treatment now. I have joined my colleagues to petition the FDA for an expedited approval process for treatments for rare diseases, and in particular for Duchenne muscular dystrophy,” said Shea-Porter in a statement to Foster's Tuesday. “Time is of the essence for these families, and I urge the FDA to act quickly.”

The Curriers hope that by sharing their story, others will get involved, reaching out to local and state officials, as well as the FDA.

Every day the drug is not approved, children fighting DMD face more consequences as the disease slowly takes over the body, even affecting organs such as he heart. Degeneration can be halted with etiplersen's approval from the FDA.

Linda said her son has seen the most decline over the last year, and a more rapid decline is expected in the coming years.

“Last year we could walk down the driveway to get the mail,” she said. “This year we can't.”

Lucas now sometimes uses a wheelchair, such as each day at the Cooperative Middle School, though he can still walk shorter distances. He's still very independent but needs help with simple tasks like getting dressed and getting out of bed.

“The quicker he gets it, the sooner things will stabilize. It's so urgent to get this through,” she said.

Until then, Lucas will continue with his swim therapy, stretches and acupuncture.

“Really, for us every day is just every day, just like every other family,” Linda said. “It just becomes your normal, but your normal isn't Little League, it's power soccer,” she added of the modified sport through the University of New Hampshire's Northeast Passage.

“My wife is a trooper. She is so proactive. I am very proud of her and all that she does,” said Lucas' father, Randy. “I'm close to him but without her, he'd be lost.”

Each member of the family plays their own important role. Linda said Lucas enjoys coming home to play hockey in the garage with his father most days. His big sister, Alyssa, 13, also likes to hang out with her brother.

“She helps with whatever I need,” he said.

Linda said she often takes him sledding and pulls him back up the hill. She said there was a time when he could pull his own sled up the hill, but in the past year, he's gotten to the point where he needs to hitch a ride, and Alyssa is more than happy to help.

“She really gets it,” said Randy. “She's amazing,” Linda added.

At the center of all it is Lucas, who takes every ounce of his disease in stride.

“He's just happy. He's amazing,” said Linda. “He never gets down about this.”

Randy added that positive attitude keeps everyone in the house positive.

“We all have out moments when we want to cry, but we can't. It's about him,” he said.

“He keeps the house with a sense of humor,” he added. “He's an inspiration to all of us.”

Linda and Randy agreed Lucas is what keeps them going. “Him and the incredible support we have from the community,” Linda said. She said a parent of one his classmates designed a fundraiser, Art for a Cure, to raise money for DMD research.

“This is their cause now and they don't even live with it,” she said.

While he's aware of what the future holds for the fight against DMD, Lucas doesn't stop to mope just keeps moving.

“He's such a sports lover,” said Linda. “He played Little League until he couldn't anymore,” she added. “And now he helps me coach,” said Randy.

Still, Lucas keeps up with his sports, even making the competitive team as a goalie in his power soccer league this season.

The family hopes to help Lucas live a life where he can continue to play these sports with the independence he already has by getting etiplersen approved soon.

“After all the fundraising and advocating we've done through the years, now it's here and we never thought we'd be fighting the FDA,” Linda said.

To help etiplersen gain approval, the Curriers recommend writing to elected officials and the FDA. The family's fundraising page for DMD can be found at firstgiving.com/saveourboys.

To find out more about DMD and how it affects the 1 in 3,500 boys that are diagnosed with it, go to parentprojectmd.org.